"Super effective." Hanabi gave a small nod.
Too bad Jiraiya hadn't actually been tripped up. Otherwise Hanabi would have given Naruto twelve thumbs-up.
"Need to pull another stunt later."
Hanabi decided to arrange something fun for a future occasion.
For now, though, Hanabi had other things to attend to.
Because of the switch to quarterly settlement, the Popularity Points reward wouldn't be tallied until after the Chūnin Exams concluded. But after the second exam ended, the Popularity Points Shop had refreshed again.
Three purchase options appeared this time.
The very first item was enough to surprise her.
[Workshop LV1]
[Actor Supplies]
[A space for adjusting and modifying Performance Outfits and Performance Props]
[Spend Popularity Points to adjust the style and functionality of Performance Outfits and Performance Props]
[Further features unlockable by upgrading the Workshop]
[Note: Capable of linking with the Temporary Protagonist]
[Price: 100,000 Popularity Points]
The item had no rarity listed, but Hanabi felt it was worth a lot.
One of Sparkle's abilities was that it let Hanabi "stylize"—or "localize," so to speak—other props and equipment. But the Workshop in front of her was listed under "Actor Supplies," which meant, per her inquiry, that it was a "universally applicable type" available to all characters.
Now that was interesting.
Hanabi had a "trait" for this, so the Workshop would grant her a bonus on top. After checking with the Stage, she learned that even after switching world-sets, she could deposit equipment into the Workshop—and then switch to whichever character had the relevant talent to do the "fine-tuning."
For instance: Hanabi becomes Inori Yuzuriha, and in that state she has no outfit-modification ability. But she can still submit items to the Workshop herself—and for better results after submission, she can "switch characters" back to Hanabi for the actual refinement.
The items from each production set couldn't be taken across to a different one after use—at least not yet—but this method did allow for a degree of cross-production borrowing.
There were limits, though. The Workshop required the item to be a Performance Prop. Props native to the world-set itself couldn't be put in.
"While I'm at it, I can touch up my own outfit too. I wonder whether Puppet Arms can be integrated into Zhuixia."
If not, she'd have to use the old Performance Prop Procurement Card to buy them back separately.
It was 100,000 Popularity Points, but Hanabi bought it anyway.
"Let me see—Actor Training, mecha?"
[Actor Training (Humanoid Mecha Piloting): 3-Star, 360-day intensive training; participant will temporarily leave this world during the course, and world time will be paused]
[Note: Course fees include the cost of one Performance Training Outfit and room and board]
[Price: 20,000 Popularity Points]
The course itself was 3-Star, but the price was unexpectedly high.
"Is it because of the included outfit?"
Too bad she couldn't use it now.
"No use in the Naruto world—but the technique itself might come in handy."
Bought, then shelved.
Hanabi had a character card for Inori Yuzuriha too. No use right now, but after switching to another persona, maybe.
Last was the third item.
[Performance Outfit Pack (3-Star, Japanese-style/Ninja-style)]
[Open to receive one 3-Star Performance Outfit with Japanese and ninja aesthetics]
[Price: 15,000 Popularity Points]
"Now this is more like it."
Hanabi's current Performance Outfit had essentially become part of Zhuixia, her personal weapon. And Mai Shiranui's ninja suit was a "token item"—strictly speaking, not a Performance Outfit.
"Opening!"
Three cards appeared on the Stage's interface.
Blue sky and white clouds—but a slightly more refined version than the usual gacha backdrop. Artisanal blue sky and white clouds.
[Performance Outfit — Mizuki Yukikaze Ninja Suit]
[Rarity: 3-Star]
[A ninja outfit modeled after Taimanin Mizuki Yukikaze's style. Ninja technique training speed +5%. Audience attention +5% for associated characters while in ninja role.]
The very first item was already this heavyweight.
"Does the Stage have an adult channel? Nani—most world-sets are all-ages?"
Hanabi had been halfway expecting some interesting world-set to turn up, but the Stage informed her otherwise.
Right—Taimanin had all-ages entries too. All-ages. Perfectly fine.
[Performance Outfit — Hozumi/Mumei's Combat Suit]
[Rarity: 3-Star]
[Mumei's combat suit from Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, weapon systems removed. Attention during battle +10%.]
(You're a Mumei too, huh 0.0)
(Mumei in casual wear)
"Ara, ara."
The second outfit was fairly unremarkable—except for the fact that Uchiha Hikari used to go by "Nameless," and now she'd pulled an outfit belonging to a different character whose name also meant exactly that. Amusing.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. The Mumei here was naturally the female lead from that series.
"And the third—"
[Performance Outfit — Shadow Ninja Tharja]
[Dark Mage Tharja's ninja attire. Ninja technique training speed +5%. Audience attention +5% for associated characters while in ninja role.]
(Shadow Ninja Tharja)
(First Ascension)
(Second Ascension)
(Actually this version is better)
Nearly identical stat bonuses to the Yukikaze outfit. Pure aesthetic difference.
"I remember this character is from Fire Emblem, right?" The character wore a full-body black bodysuit, so Hanabi's mental image was sharp.
Whether this was a new card or a skin of some kind, the suit itself was a full-body mesh ninja outfit.
After looking them all over, Hanabi fell into thought.
"Hmm… the stat bonuses are all pretty weak, and there's no performance effect either."
Plain outfits with no special effects—nothing particularly exciting.
But then something occurred to her.
"Stage—can these Performance Outfits be used by other 'cast members'?"
Hanabi's chaos-gremlin instincts stirred.
[No problem—but outfits lent to other characters must be retrieved by you personally]
"Do the bonuses still apply?"
[Traits compatible with this world-set will activate]
"And the Popularity Points increase?"
[Increased Popularity Points go to the outfit provider]
"Oh, I'd get the extra points too—that's an unexpected windfall."
Perfect timing. Hanabi decided to give the Workshop a try.
That's right.
"First—let's get Naruto… ah, Naruko an outfit."
The Yukikaze suit didn't quite fit.
Mumei's combat suit felt strange too.
The last ninja suit was actually a gender-neutral design—the feminine appearance came from the original character's figure. And Hanabi could modify the outfit herself, adjusting the cut so it could work on a male wearer. Normally it could be worn underneath regular clothes; you'd just put your usual outfit over it, and reveal it during combat.
"Let's test it first. Adjust the colorway to orange, add some Uzumaki Clan markings…"
That was the plan, anyway. Run the test.
Then send it over to Naruto.